Month: December 2008

Christmas has come and gone and 2008 is coming to a close. This year has been an interesting one. Good and bad things happened this year but the fact that I’m still here is truly a blessing. I guess that goes for all of us. Each day we’re alive is definitely a gift.

With that, I want to wish you a belated Merry Christmas and an advanced Happy New Year. I sincerely hope that your Christmas was a good one. I know times are tough and that this year might not have been as bountiful as the last. Still as long as you were able to celebrate it with your loved ones and had food on the table it’s a good Christmas.

My wish for you in the coming year, is good health and prosperity. I hope that all of us are free from sickness in the coming year. I also pray that we all will get through the economic turmoil that is coming.

Whatever happens this coming year let’s not forget to count our blessings and be thankful for what we have. Again, I wish you all a belated Merry Christmas and an advanced Happy New Year!

Instead of debating suicide laws, why isn’t more done to find as cure for the awful diseases that so ruin people’s lives, they feel the need to kill themselves?
– Michael, Manchester, UK

That quote came from one of the comments left on an article that I just read. The article was titled “British TV viewers to be shown shocking moment terminally ill man ends his life at suicide clinic” and it was published on Mail Online, a British publication.

The article talks about a man named Craig Ewert who suffers from Motor Neurone Disease (MND), a group of progressive neurological disorders that affect the control over muscles. Craig Ewert has decided that he did not want to prolong his suffering as well as subject his family to his ordeal that he flew to Switzerland to die. Dignitas, a Swiss organization assists terminally ill people in performing assisted suicide. You can read the entire article here.

This story caught my attention and in a way pulled something in my heart because I know what it’s like to go through something similar, albeit not as bad.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again, there’s a sense of dignity that is lost when you can’t fend for yourself. When you rely on someone else to do normal daily activities, it does get quite taxing. Not only on yourself but on the people around you.

Being paralyzed, not having control over your body is a very difficult thing. Physically and emotionally. It’s something you don’t wish another person, even an enemy.

I’m quite lucky that at least I still have some function over other parts of my body. I can still do other things such as type on a computer, text message, eat, speak, etc… Those things still make life worth living.

I do understand what went through Mr. Ewert’s head. I would be lying if I said that I’ve never thought about just ending my life and getting this over with. However those moments are very brief and fleeting. I’ve managed to think of reasons to keep on going. But I can empathize and understand his decision. It’s not an easy life…

The question begs to be asked “why aren’t we doing much more in terms of making sure that people who are in similar situations don’t have to make that decision?”.

We as a society should do more. We should spend more on healthcare, research for medicine and treatments that will cure illnesses such as this. We should provide programs that assist families in caring for sick members, we should be more compassionate as a society that decisions such as taking your own life should not be made. Life is precious, each life is important.

Like I said, I still manage to find a reason to keep fighting. My family is my main driver in doing so. I honestly wouldn’t know what to do if I lose them, they are the biggest reason why I continue to fight. Without them I don’t think I would have gotten this far. I honestly hope I never run out of reasons to go on and keep fighting.

While I can understand one persons wish to enforce his right to die and end his suffering, it is my sincerest wish that society gives everyone enough reason and assistance to not have to exercise that right.

I don’t know why but I’ve been really fascinated about watches lately. I’ve always liked watches but didn’t really think as much about it as much I’m thinking about it now.

I guess it’s because it’s a symbol of time and how precious time is to us mortals. We have a finite period that we spend here on earth and that’s something that you can’t put a price on.

A watch is also what I consider a man’s jewelry. I’m not a fan of men wearing a lot of bling. Personally the only jewelry I’d be comfortable in wearing is a watch, ring (wedding ring) and a necklace. Even for the necklace I only wear a necklace that’s a religious symbol.

I have a few things I want in life one of them is to own a nice watch. Why? It’s because I feel that it’s something that I can pass on to my child if I ever have one or someone important to me. Something to remind them of me. It’s something that can be passed on from generation to generation. I’m not a watch collector so I really only want one nice watch.

Some people will think its ridiculous but to each his own. There’s something about a well crafted timepiece that really appeals to me.

There’s only two reasons why I don’t have a nice watch. One is that I can’t stomach the fact that I would own one and my dad doesn’t. I know he also wanted a nice watch but he sacrificed that want in order to provide for his family. The second reason is that.. well I just don’t have the money yet. If I did, I’d probably go and buy my dad one first and just ask him to pass it on to me later on.

If and this is a big IF, I had the resources to buy one, I’d love to own a Panerai. Why? It’s just a manly watch plus it’s not that common. At the moment a Panerai, any model is my watch of choice.

That’s a dream though… Maybe one day… But as of now there are more important things to worry about.

I just turned 31 last Nov 28. For someone who was told that he might not reach the age of 30, this is certainly a milestone. I consider this my first “bonus” year.

The past year has been both good and bad. Good in the sense that I’m still around, bad that I feel I’m 31 and still have very little to show for it.

I am happy about somethings, I’ve done several interesting things, got featured in some TV shows, met interesting people who turned out to become good friends.

Bad because there are things that happened this year that are sad. I won’t dwell on it too much though.

I honestly have a lot to be thankful for. Another year has passed, I’m still around to enjoy life. My family is relatively healthy, I still have money (however little it is) in my bank account, new friends, my treatments are still continuing. All in all great blessings.

I do have some birthday wishes…

A friend asked me what my birthday wish for this year was, I answered that there’s a special person in my life that is sick right now. I wish him well and hope that he gets through this trial. That’s what I want right now more than anything else. Well, ok apart from the continued well being of my parents and brother but apart from that I’m good.

So on that note, God, thanks for another year. I’m hoping I’ll be able to write another post for my 32nd birthday and the many more years after that.

After a long break, I’m trying to get back into blogging here at Fight Pompe. I hope that I’ll be able to sustain this. I’m sorry to have neglected this blog. It’s just been crazy lately. Busy with so many things that it’s not funny anymore.

Wish me luck… again..

About Fight Pompe

Welcome to my corner of the virtual world. I mainly put up this blog to chronicle my fight against Pompe Disease. A rare genetic disorder. Apart from that I wanted to write about things I've learned going through my experience, stuff I love which includes design and a bunch of other stuff. I hope you enjoy reading my entries. Check out my about page for more details.